Keeping kids occupied during wet, rainy days or when it's too hot to go outside can drive anyone a little bonkers. If you can organize yourself, you can plan ahead for those days when the kids are inside and you want to peel them away from their electronics.
Baking is one way. Who doesn't want to do something really messy and yummy at the same time. Buy a stock of frozen, ready-to-bake cookies on hand as well as packaged icing, decorating sprinkles and crinkles, nuts, raisins, etc. Get the kids to slice up the cookie rolls (using plastic knifes) and then decorate the cookies with whatever decorations you have on hand: raisins, sprinkles, food colouring.
One really fun recipe that your kids can make from scratch is a peanut butter teddy bear pop on a stick. The recipe couldn't be simpler and it all takes less than one hour including cleanup.
Peanut Butter Teddy Bear Pops
1 cup peanut butter (use organic if you can get it as it has no added sugar)1 cup dark or yellow brown sugar1 large egg
Preheat oven 350°F. Mix sugar and egg together, then add peanut butter. Next hand-roll the peanut butter dough in bear body parts (kids love this part).
Form the bear on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until bear starts to brown around the edges. Remove and and insert a wooden skewer through the bear and then let cool.
This Canada Day you won’t have to break the bank if you gather up whatever supplies you have from other holidays (red and white wrapping paper, ribbons, etc.). Hand those over to the kids to make your festive Canada Day decorations and you’ll be pleased at what they’ve created.
3-D Maple leaf table decoration
To make this 3-D table decoration, I recycled red file folders that but you can use whatever paper you have on hand. First, gather up a few real maple leaves and press with a cool iron to flatten, then trace the leaf onto your paper. Cut out as many as you need- each decoration takes 4 leaves. Fold the leaves in half along the centre of each leaf and glue the leaves along these folds to form a three-dimensional shape.
Paper fireworks
To make pom-poms, fold a 7.5cm x 39 cm (3in x 15 in) piece of tissue or light-weight wrapping paper in half twice lengthwise. Cut very thin slits, leaving about 2.5 cm at the top uncut. Unfold the paper, and attach a piece of double-sided tape to one uncut corner; stick one end of the uncut edge to a bamboo skewer, and wrap the paper around several times. Once you reach the other end, use a piece of tape to secure.
Party favoursI recycled empty matchboxes and covered them with bits of paper from previous holidays. To make these favours, first remove the matches (an adult should do this) from the match box. Cut and glue a piece of paper over the match book cover and fill with treats. Fill with little treats and leave out for guests to take home.
If you don’t have matchboxes, uses small envelopes and decorate with leaf stickers instead.
Can-do cans
My favourite way to recycle my coffee cans and wrap them in any red and white paper I have on hand.. Use thees colourful containers to hold cutlery, candy, or whatever.
Wash and dry empty cans. Cut out the wrapping (use wrapping paper scraps) to fit around the can. Place paper wrong side up; add glue along each short end. Align and stick one end to can; wrap paper around can, then secure the other end.
For leaf templates and other Canada Day projects, visit the following websites:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/canada/index.html
http://holidays.kaboose.com/canada-day/
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/canada_day_pages.htm
http://www.create-kids-crafts.com/canada-day-crafts-for-kids.html
Instead of chucking your old soccer balls or barbecue grill, why not recycle these instead. Most equipment can be recycled if you know how to go about it.
Bicycles - In Ottawa, donate your bike to Recyclore Bicycle Recycling, described on their website as "a non-profit volunteer organization providing our community with used bicycles, a do-it-yourself repair shop, and a bicycle-recycling depot. We promote low-cost transportation, exercise, and fun with minimal impact to our environment."
Location: St. Paul Catholic High School (2675 Draper Avenue Ottawa
If your bike is too far gone, remove tires and other non-metal parts and recycle the frame. Check your town/city's website for details.
In Britain, the organization Re-cycle sends used bicycles to Africa. Raleigh gives buyers of new bikes a discount for their old ones and contributes these to Re-cycle.
Backpacks, binoculars, telescopes, tripods. The American Birding Association provides equipment for Latin American bird conservationists and accepts donations of these items.
Send your equipment donations to:
ABA/Birders' Exchange4945 No. 30 th. St. Suite 200Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Hockey sticks, balls, sports gear. Play it Again Sports in Ottawwill buy sports equipment and gear in good condition Find locations in your area at PlayItAgainSports.com.
Yoga mats. Wash your mat thoroughly, then mail it to Recycle your mat. Check the site for locations close to you. You can also bring your mats to a local women's shelter.
Now that you know what to do, please consider recycling all that unused gear and equipment.
